Inhibition of Notch 1 signaling in the subacute stage after stroke promotes striatal astrocyte-derived neurogenesis

Inhibition of Notch1 signaling has been shown to promote astrocyte-derived neurogenesis after stroke.To investigate the regulatory role of Notch1 signaling in this process,in this study,we used a rat model of stroke based on middle cerebral artery occlusion and assessed the behavior of reactive astrocytes post-stroke.We used theγ-secretase inhibitor N-[N-(3,5-diuorophenacetyl)-1-alanyl]-S-phenylglycine t-butylester(DAPT)to block Notch1 signaling at 1,4,and 7 days after injury.Our results showed that only administration of DAPT at 4 days after stroke promoted astrocyte-derived neurogenesis,as manifested by recovery of white matter fiber bundle integrity on magnetic resonance imaging,which is consistent with recovery of neurologic function.These findings suggest that inhibition of Notch1 signaling at the subacute stage post-stroke mediates neural repair by promoting astrocyte-derived neurogenesis.

Predictors of short-term outcome in patients with acute middle cerebral artery occlusion: unsuitability of fluid-attenuated inversion recovery vascular hyperintensity scores

Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery （FLAIR） vascular hyperintensity （FVH） is used to assess leptomeningeal collateral circulation, but clinical outcomes of patients with FVH can be very different. The aim of the present study was to assess a FVH score and explore its relationship with clinical outcomes. Patients with acute ischemic stroke due to middle cerebral artery M1 occlusion underwent magnetic resonance imaging and were followed up at 10 days （National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale） and 90 days （modified Rankin Scale） to determine short-term clinical outcomes. Effective collateral circulation indirectly improved recovery of neurological function and short-term clinical outcome by extending the size of the pial penumbra and reducing infarct lesions. FVH score showed no correlation with 90-day functional clinical outcome and was not sufficient as an independent predictor of short-term clinical outcome.

Combined Antitumor Effect of Ursolic Acid And 5-Fluorouracil on Human Esophageal Carcinoma Cell Eca-109 In Vitro

Objective： To study the combined antitumor effect and possible mechanisms of ursolic acid with 5-fluorouracil （5-FU） on human esophageal carcinoma cell Eca-109 in vitro. Methods： Eca-109 cells were treated with ursolic acid （10-50 μmol/L） and/or 5-fluorouracil （48.0-768.8 μmol/L） for 48 h in vitro. And then cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis rate were analyzed by flow cytometry （FCM）. The morphological changes of apoptosis were observed by fluorescent microscopy. At last the expression of P27kipl, bcl-2 and bax were detected by western blot. Results： Results： In comparison with single agent treatment, the combination of ursolic acid and 5-fluorouracil produced greater efficacy in growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase, and apoptosis induction （P〈0.05）. Western blot analysis showed that the combination use of ursolic acid and 5-fluorouracil suppressed the expression of bcl-2 and increased the expressions of bax and P27kip1. Conclusion： Ursolic acid combined with 5-fluorouracil showed adjuvant antiproliferative effects on human esophageal carcinoma cell Eca-109 in vitro, which mainly due to the induction of cell cycle arrest as well as apoptosis.